Railway-crossing signal



Oct. 9 192-3,

C. ADLER, JR

RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Sept. 29, 1920 STOP lg; 25

, Patented Oct. 9, 1923.

UNITED "STATE "CHARLES ADLEB, m, or BALTI1YIEORE,;M ABYLAND. I

RAILWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

- Applicationiflled September 29, 1920. Serial No. 413,588.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLEs'AnLER, J r.,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore and *6 State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Crossing Signals, of-which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to signal devices for railway crossings and the like, and it has for one of its primary objects the provision of an improved apparatus of the character described which is simple in'character, efficient in operation and requires but a minimum of power, for operation- Still" another object of my invention resides in the provision of an'improved device of the characteristics specified which will automatically turn to stop to the high- Way in case the apparatus is inoperative for some reason.

My invention also contemplates a simple arrangement of parts which can be readily protected from the weather. r

The foregoing, together with such other objects as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to my invention, I obtain by means of a construction which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view partially in elevation and partially in section, illustratin the application of m improvements; igure 1' is an end e eva tion of Figure 1; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 on an enlargedscale; and Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the parts in another operative position.

Referring now to Figures 1' and 3, the reference numeral 7 indicates the railway which is crossed. The crossing apparatus, indicated as a whole by the reference letter A, is supported on a bell post or other suitable standard 8 by means of a bracket 9 which may be of anypreferred construction. The signalling apparatus comprises a target or other form of signal member 10 mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 11, the upper end of which is passed through an aperture 12 in the bracket 9. The upper end of the shaft is enclosed in a chamber 13 and it is supported by means of two bearings 14: and 15, the former being a simple side bearin and the latter being a combination side an thrust bearing. Both of these bearings are by the shaft 11.

preferably of theball type, the arrangement of chamber and bearings being such that the latter as well as the shaft may be as-,

sembled or taken down in a simple and accessible manner. It will be noted that the central member of-the thrust bearing 15 extends radially around the periphery of the shaft 11 to an extent suflicient to cover that portion of the aperture 12 which is not filled This construction effectually prevents rain, ice or snow passing entirely through the aperture 12','and entering the chamber 13. The operating mechanism for the shaft comprises a solenoid 16 or other suitable electro-magnetic device, the armature of which is connected through the medium of pin 18 on the a link 17 with the arm or shaft; and the weight 20 carried on an "arm 21 pivoted in a bracket 21 on the chamber 13, such arm being connected with'the pin 23 of the shaft by a link 22, suitable "uni versal .joints 24 being provided to permit flexure during turning of the shaft, and suitable apertures 17 and 22 bein formed in the wall of chamber 13, permit mg the passage of the links 17 and 22. l

The operation is as follows: The solenoid is preferably on a closed circuit and is thusnormally energized, holding. the signal clear to the highway, i. e., at right angles to the position shown in Figure 1.- In this position the actuating parts are in the posi- 1 tion shown inFigure 3,. 'On the approach of a train, the circuit is broken inan preferred manner, as is well understood n this art, and the solenoid is deenergized whereupon the weight 20 automaticadlly operates to turn the shaft and signal 9 to stop position to the highway. Wherl the circuit is again established, the solenoid operates to I turn the shaft back to ini' ial position. Should the electrical apparat s become inoperative, the weight will automatically shift the signal tofstop position, this always ensurin a danger at all times.

It wil be understood that the bell 19 is suitably connected and that the signal arms are provided with shrouded lamps 25, and that the shaft is also provided with 'a'lamp rec or lamps26 covered by a shroud'27 open at the ends. The lamps may be operated on any of the systems well known in this art.

It will be apparent that the arrangement -is such that but a minimum amount of ower will be required to rotate the she 11 parts to position. The current required and its associated parts and as a result a light weight 20 will suffice to return the to overcome the weight and turn the shaft will thus be small. Furthermore, it will be noted that the parts are easy to protect against the weather, to which end I provide a shell or casing 28 which houses the actuating parts. If the exposed portions of the shaft and the target become somewhat loaded with snow or ice it Will be apparent that the efi'ect will be negligible as compared with the increase'in leverage which results under such conditions in the swinging arm signals ordinarily employed. Other advantages will readily occur to those familiar with the art.

I claim:

1. A crossing Signal comprising a support, a rotatable shaft depending therefrom and provided with a signal arm adjacent its lower end, a chamber enclosing the 11 per end ofsaidshaft, bearings for said sha t at separated points in saidchamber, means for rotating said shaft, and a housing cover- .,ing said chamber and said shaft operating means.

2. A crossing signal comprising a support, a rotatable shaft extending through said support and provided with a signal arm adjacent its lower end, a chamber en-' closing the upper end of said shaft, said chamber carrying shaft bearings at its top and bottom, apertures in said chamber,

pivoted to said. bracket and means extending through one of said'apen tures and adapted to rotate the shaft in one direction, and means extending through another aperture and adaptedto rotate the shaft in an opposite direction, substantially as described.

3. A crossing signal comprising a support, a rotatable shaft depending therefrom and carrying a signal arm on its lower portion, a chamber carried by said sup port and enclosing the upper end of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft in one direction a bracket mounted on a wall of said-chamber, and means supported by said bracket for rotating the shaft in another direction.

4L. A crossing signal comprising a support, a rotatable shaft depending therefrom and carrying a signal arm on its lower porenclosing the upper end of said shaft,

means for rotating said shaft in one direction, a bracket mounted on a wall of said chamber, and means supported by said bracket for rotating the shaft in another direction, said means. comprising an arm carrying a weight at its lower end, and a link secured to said shaft and pivoted to the upper end of said arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto signed my name.

CHARLES Anemia, JR. 

